31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 31~ Incorporate the Season

It's the last day!

When you walk through your home can you tell what season it is? I'm not saying that you should have pumpkins lining the halls or a Christmas tree in every room but sometimes the most subtle items can give a nod to the season.










I don't know about you but I try to pull out a few of my Christmas decorations November 1st. The season is so short that for me, it's not fun to wait until December. So so slowly add in more and more Christmas. Besides, my family LOVES Christmas decorations and I've got some great stuff to share this season and we are sure to be inspired with the Christmas tour of homes!



Enjoy the evening, no matter what you are doing~we had a fantastic sale that was very well worth the trouble and it was pure joy to meet some of you!

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 30~ Rescue Something

this is how my boys repurpose

I'm planning to have my yard sale tomorrow and I hate to admit it but I keep pulling things out to keep. Things like empty frames and pretend fruit that I can paint. And I have a feeling that you have things stored away in your garage, storage shed, attic, under the house--that you could use in your home if you forced yourself to consider how.

Walk through those areas with a different perspective and see if you already possess something that you can find a fresh purpose for. Whether it's a door, chair, dresser, lamp, table, or whatever I bet you can find one thing that you can repurpose.

Some of the most fun and rewarding projects I've done in my home have involved using things that I already had that I thought were junk and then realizing how glad I was that I was able to use it.

One day left.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 29~ Proportion and Relation

Punished we were, disproportionate to our crime. Know what movie that is from? I'll give you a hint, eat three oreos and then go to the mirror and look at your teeth as you say the quote aloud to yourself.


Here is another crime of proportions. What's wrong with this picture, besides the fact that it looks as if I have 800 watt bulbs in each of my lamps and something always seems to be hanging out of the drawers?

If I were a good blogger, this is the part where I would show you no less than 12 photos depicting correct and incorrect sizing and spacing of objects hung above and over other objects.


Katie sent me this photo. She was so excited that her husband finally hung her door in their playroom. Doncha love how they splatter painted it? She said she was so happy that he hung it, she didn't have the heart to tell him that it's too high. She's gonna make it work but she told me I could show you all this example of too highness.

Husbands tend to hang items WAAAAY too high, maybe because they are tall, maybe because they grew up in the 70's when moms hung everything close to the ceiling. This door is closer to the ceiling than to the sofa--that is a sure sign that something is wrong. When you hang something, most of the time, it's hung in relation to something else. This door is hung over the sofa. Therefore, it's related to the sofa and should be closer to the sofa. However, in the door's defense, it's a a great size and scale for over the sofa.

Are there rules for hanging such things? I'm not a big rule abider but, yes, there's some sort of 2/3rds rule that says you should make sure you visually fill in 2/3 of the space above an item. For example, with this sofa, whatever is on the wall should fill up 2/3 of the visual space of the sofa to make it feel balance. Too small and it looks like a shrunken head, too big and it's top heavy.




See how this door does not look right hung over this small table? Now, that door is about the same visual weight as the sofa on the right but I still think it looks just fine when I have the sofa under the door even though that doesn't obey the 2/3 rule. And no, I don't only have photos of doors on walls.

I also have shutters.

I tend to err on hanging things too low. But I love how the things on the far wall are all related, and they love each other. They are not afraid to get close, two great looks that look great together.

I'm sure there's a rule for height in hanging stuff on walls too--like the center should be 60 inches off the ground, or eye level {who's eye?}. Personally, I choose to hang it, look at it, and if seems too high or low then I move the nail. Remember, it 's just a nail hole, the smallest worry in the entire universe.

So, walk around and check out your wall hangings. Are they in proportion to what they are hanging over? Do you have your mirrors, clocks, shutters, photos, art, spaced so far from the thing it's place over that it looks like it's floating? If so, bring it down a little.

By the way,promise me you will NEVER, I repeat, never measure something and try to hang something exactly 2/3 the size over it. That is insane.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 28~Up and Out

After yesterday's post about drapery length you would think I'd be scared off from every talking about drapes again. Nope, we've got a few more points to hit when it comes to highlighting your windows.

In my opinion, window treatments/mistreatments are there to serve two purposes, the most important being to highlight the windows, and secondly, if needed to help with privacy. Ideally, in a perfect world you don't want to have to use your window treatments or drapes for privacy, it's so much easier if you have shades or blinds or if possible, naked windows enhanced with fabric. I know for some of us we need to be able to pull the drapes at night and you still can do that and follow these rules.

See that first photo up there? I'll copy it here again.


What beautiful silk drapes! But why, WHY is the rod mounted so low and shortly and why does the rod end just outside the window casing? The problem with these drapes is they cover a good amount of light coming from the window. Usually, when we first look at a home to buy, most of us are attracted to the light and how big the windows are. Why would anyone want to cut the natural, free light in half when they put up their window treatments?


Is there a window back there or just a blank wall? We'll never know.



I personally don't mind a topper and drapes together but this one is breaking a rule or five--it's covering up light! Someone needs to raise the rod up so the bottom of the topper just meets the top of the glass. And get a longer rod or extend this one out so that those drapes sit in front of the wall, not precious, priceless, free natural light! Oh, and the drapes are too short too.

"Somebody help me, I'm being smothered."

I like cafe curtains too, but again, they should be light and airy. During the day, push them all the way to the edges to let light in.


This cafe curtain is great because lets in light but still provides a bit of privacy. Well done!
What is this? Some creepy form of punishment? I know for these advertisements, they want to show the fabric on the drapes, but I see this done in real homes all the time. Dark, dark, heavy curtains and a sliver of natural light? Maybe in a few years living in a dim cave will be all the rage but here in 2009, people want light. DON'T COVER UP THE WINDOWS!!!


If you insist on covering your glass in your windows, consider a light fabric. And remember to raise that rod up higher! If you like to hide some light sometimes, you can still pull your drapes together for privacy or light control but, you should have the option to open them and allow 95% of the window to show. This is especially true if your house is on the market.


A higher rod results in longer drapes that result in a more spacious feeling in your space. And making sure the fabric falls mostly in front of the wall just covering the edges of the glass on the windows gives the illusion of big huge windows and maximizes the light.

If you want dark, short rooms with the appearance of tiny windows, just ignore me. Don't hate me because I'm bossy and opinionated. This trick will change your entire home!

Photos: Pottery Barn, Country Curtains, Target

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 27~ Drapery Check

pottery barn

This is one of those posts that I get nervous about writing. Drapery length~it's such a touchy subject. Just like all home design, it's a matter of opinion. But my big fat hairy opinion right now is that your drapes should just touch the floor. If they stop three inches from the ground all floating in the air, then it looks like your windows are wearing capris. And capris are out as far as drapes are concerned.

So go around and check your drapes. Are they high waters? If so, here's one way to fix them. I'm off to read all the hate mail I'll get about me thinking drapes that are too short.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 26~Put A Frame on It

All the empty frames {7x}

Cuz, if you liked it then you should have put a frame on it
If you liked it then you should have put a frame on it
Don't be mad when you see that she framed it
If you like it then you should have put a frame on it

Related Post:
Frame It: Nests
Frame It: Photo Copy of Story Books
Frame It: Wine Cork Board
Frame Groupings
A Framed Fork

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 25~Set Goals

We've talked about making a list of words that you want to describe your home {and the feelings you get when you enter into it} and also about keeping an idea book. Let's take that list idea in another direction. It may seem simple and obvious to you bonafied list makers like me, but maybe some of you don't have a goal notebook for your home.


Just the other day I found my home notebook from 2006. I had a page where I wrote my goals for the year. Right up there in the light blue, you can click it to enlarge it and see what was on my mind at the time.

We didn't do all those things but we did get a permanent computer home, figure out how to address the empty wall in the family room, get a new/discount/damaged stove that looked great, repair and hang the window boxes, make shutters and hang them, make our bed stuff, and enlarge a photo. Most of the stuff was done quickly because we ended up needing to sell our house fast because of a failing business, but I still got satisfaction from things being done.


This is NOT a list of things that you need to write down and feel bad about and nag your husband about, NO! This is a place where you can put your thoughts to rest. Once I wrote down my goals for the house as far as areas that needed attention or furniture I would like to have, I could stop thinking about them so much. Since they were safe in this notebook, I didn't need to keep going over the ideas in my mind.


This is my favorite page because I remembered to cross things off. The highlight of any list maker's day. As you can see, I had a general page of things in the house that I was thinking about, and then a page for each room and things I was considering. Did we do everything? Nope. I had lots of question marks after ideas.


Go ahead and start a home notebook, include your ideas and your lists, and any doodles you might like. It's nice to have everything in one place and when you see a cute zebra chair at Tuesday Morning for only $49 you will be able to think more clearly about if you actually need it or not depending on if seating was on your list.

Two years ago I bought that chair but when I got it home it didn't look quite right with my stuff. But I had just done the list and knew that I was on the lookout for seating in our master bedroom.

Do you have a goal book for your home?

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 24~Incorporate Fabric

Fabric and softness can and should be introduced into every room of your house.

• window mistreatments
• towels
• rugs
• pillows
• table runners
• a basket of cushy blankets
• lampshades {I count them as fabricy too if they are made with fabric}
• seat cushions
  

It can be tricky to bring fabric into your kitchen we talked about that before. Check your rooms out, can you soften any of them up with fabric?

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 23~Group it

Welcome to day 23 of A Better Dressed Nest. Let's jump right in with today's tip. For a bigger and better impact group like things together. It's that simple.

Group your succulents.

My boys even know the power of a good grouping.

My apothecary jars are all protected, I mean grouped in my glass terrarium.

I group pillows {bordering on layering}

Group colored dishes {layering too, hate me}

Paper lanterns look much better clumped together.

One dish on the wall is so lonely, pack them in.

If you have a collection of something, gather them all together and show them off.

I even pile all of our pretty soaps and brushes in a big bowl. They like being together.

One pumpkin on this table would be sad.

And art looks good in pairs and such as well.

What have you grouped lately?

Yard sale update will come later today, stay tuned, it seriously looks like it might rain and we'll have to postpone.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 22~ Fix Something Broken

A guest post from my dear, funny friend, and favorite contractor, Tim, The Remodeling Guy, we are obviously ultra cool together. Here's Tim...

Before I can really get going here, I have to take a moment to compose myself. It's just hard not to laugh whenever I come over here to The Nesting Place. The Nester is just too funny!

It also strikes me as a little bit ironic that I'm writing about how to better dress a nest! Up until a year ago, I thought nests were all in trees. Now I know better and I'm honored to be invited here for this guest post!

I'm stumped though. How, on this wonderfully written, witty, and engaging blog, am I supposed to lead into the subject matter..???

Fix Something Broken

I could just hit on the fact that we all know just how annoying those "little things" can be! How they grate on your nerves every single time you see them. Day, after day, after day. But that would be depressing and make me feel bad about my list!

I could tell a story about how my mother-in-law almost hit the floor when she tried to sit in a broken chair (ha!)... well, it's actually not broken, just three-legged. Or I could complain about the cabinet door on the cabinet that holds all my grillin' seasoning... it closes on me every single time! It'll get ya!

If I really wanted to make this a "feature length" post, I could ask my wonderful wife, Kim, a simple question..."um, dear (I don't really say dear), is there anything around here you'd like me to fix?" But let's not go there. It's not a good idea.

The fact is, I could pick any one of a number of things to take care of around here, and every single one of them would result, ever so slightly, in a "better dressed nest!" And every step, no matter how small, makes a big difference!

I've been around people's homes long enough to know that almost everybody has some of the same simple things they could fix in no time flat! Any of these ring a bell:

• Light bulbs need changing
• Door knob is loose
• Door knob made a hole in the wall
• Door needs a knob... :-)
• Towel bar is MIA
• Drawer front can best be described as "precarious"

You get the idea and we both know that once you do that little thing, it's a whole lot more weight off your head than you would think! I put some glue on that broken chair leg just today, and I know I'm breathing easier! Wouldn't want to damage the mother-in-law, now would I?

So, I'm really curious, what little thing do you need fixed? I bet you have some pretty entertaining little problems out there. I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks Nester for having me here again! Have fun with the garage sale!

{Tim and I seriously fixing my mistreatments, no, this is not staged, this fabric clearly needed drilling and hot gluing right that very minute, and we never look at what we are working on, we are so experienced we always just look around the room.} Be sure to stop by Remodeling Guy and check out his approachable ideas. He's also got a facebook page where you can ask him questions! You can ask a real, live contractor questions for free! And he'll answer them!